CalL1 San Jose Giants

Storm Edge Giants With Ninth Inning Run

Published on August 9, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Lake Elsinore's Javis Diaz scored Jeremy Hunt with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Storm a narrow 6-5 victory over the San Jose Giants on Friday night at The Diamond. Lake Elsinore scored four unanswered runs to finish the contest en route to claiming the series opener. With the loss, San Jose's second half record drops to 27-20 - 1/2 game ahead of the Modesto Nuts (26-20) for the top spot in the North Division.

Brock Bond (2-for-5, 2 RBI) collected a pair of hits and two RBI's to lead the 11-hit Giants offensive attack. Mike McBryde (2-for-5, 3B, RBI), Matt Downs (2-for-5, RBI, SB) and Tyler Graham (2-for-4, 2 SB) also finished with more than one hit.

The Giants led 5-2 until Lake Elsinore scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning before a single tally in the sixth. Facing San Jose starting pitcher Tim Alderson, consecutive doubles from Diaz and Cedric Hunter to begin the fifth produced a run. Then two batters later, Eric Sogard grounded out to second base plating Hunter to make it a 5-4 margin.

Steve Edlefsen relieved Alderson to start the bottom of the sixth and promptly walked leadoff batter Mitch Canham. After Canham stole second base, Edlefsen uncorked a wild pitch to move the runner to third. Then with one out, another Edlefsen wild pitch allowed Canham to score the tying run.

The Giants mustered only two hits with no runs scored over the final five frames. With the game tied, San Jose threatened in the top of the ninth inning as McBryde lined a single into center field with one out. McBryde advanced to second base when Bond grounded out, but was stranded in scoring position after Downs bounced out to third.

In the bottom of the ninth, Juan Trinidad surrendered a leadoff single to Hunt. Jesus Lopez followed with a sacrifice bunt, but reached base safely when Trinidad threw the ball wildly to first and down the right field line. The error, San Jose's only miscue of the evening, allowed Hunt to advance all the way to third base. Diaz then stepped to the plate and lofted the first pitch of his at-bat to deep right field. McBryde made the catch on the edge of the warning track and fired a perfect one-hop throw all the way to the plate. However, Hunt barreled over Jackson Williams preventing the catcher from fielding the throw cleanly and having an opportunity to record a double play.

Trinidad (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. The reliever, who entered the game to start the seventh inning, retired the first six batters he faced until Hunt's leadoff single.

Trailing 1-0, the Giants tied the game in the top of the third inning when McBryde led off with a triple to deep left field before scoring on Bond's single.

Lake Elsinore went back in front with a single run against Alderson in the bottom of the third before San Jose answered with four runs in the fourth. Graham began the rally with a one-out single before stealing second base. After Darren Ford reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners, McBryde grounded out back to the mound bringing home Graham with the tying run.

Bond followed with a sharp line drive single into left field to plate Ford for a 3-2 Giants lead. Bond took second on the play when Diaz in left field bobbled the ball for an error before scoring when the next hitter, Downs, connected for an RBI single. Then after Downs stole second base, Brett Pill delivered an RBI single to give San Jose a 5-2 advantage.

Alderson received a no-decision after yielding four runs (all earned) on six hits over five innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out one during his 70-pitch performance.

Notes: The Giants are 2-2 on their current six-game road trip ... Friday marked San Jose's first game this season in Lake Elsinore ... They swept the Storm in a three-game series at Municipal Stadium from May 6-8 ... The Giants stole five bases in six attempts ... Graham swiped two bags giving the outfielder 44 this season - second in the California League ... Alderson is still a perfect 5-0 in the second half (nine starts) ... San Jose out-hit Lake Elsinore by an 11-8 margin ... Edlefsen (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) and Trinidad (2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) were the only two pitchers to see action out of the Giants bullpen ... McBryde extended his hitting streak to seven games ... San Jose's overall record dropped to 70-47.

On Deck: The Giants and Storm continue this three-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch scheduled for 7:08 P.M. at The Diamond. Waldis Joaquin (0-0, 3.60 ERA) is slated to make a spot start on the mound for San Jose while Lake Elsinore is expected to counter with San Diego Padres left-hander Shawn Estes (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Estes, a former San Jose and San Francisco Giant, will be making a rehabilitation start. The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from August 9, 2008


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